day 5 - San Francisco and the Headlands

We woke up late again today, 10-ish, and had a leisurely breakfast as usual. I had queso fresco con membrillo. But the queso fresco in the hotel in Madrid was better. It was market day in Muros, so we all wandered out at different times to see the market. Eva bought more of that great peasant sourdough bread - it comes in amazingly large chunks and is so dense it is hard to cut. But delicious! I went out and bought myself nail polish remover, tissues, and peaches. Also a Tetilla cheese - that means "tit" and when you see the picture you will know why. Also some Andalusian spicy paprika so I can cook "a Gallego." Gallego style cooking is to cook things - like boil them or steam them in water, then dress them in olive oil, paprika and salt. I had octopus slices cooked that way, it is simple but very tasty. Today for lunch I cooked up a bunch of little green peppers that they eat here that way, very good.

It rained a little about lunchtime so we stayed in and made up a large salad and ate that fabulous bread with cheese and the local jamon.


After lunch the sun came out so we headed out in the car northwards (west and north) along the coast, further than we walked on Wednesday. We saw the beach at San Francisco and then went further to the next Lighthouse on Punta Carreiro. We were considering hiking up Mount Louro (241 meters) but the group was not in consensus. Then we had a very Jimish adventure which reduced me to tears. There was a fabulous view along the rocky headlands looking down to the beach Praia da Area Major. Jim and Tony wanted to walk down along the rocks but I was fearful and walked along the road. But then I was afraid of losing them and so I followed after getting my photos. Unfortunately I fell on the rocks with my camera in my hand, smashing the camera against a rock, destroying it. Then Jim and Tony wanted to climb further on the rocks out to the beach and Eva and I decided to go back up to the road and get to the beach that way. Unfortunately we could not find the path to the road again, we split up looking for it and I got lost in 5-foot tall brambles, dense and horrible, and couldn't find my way out. The others found me by voice and by my holding up my hat, but I still had to get through the brambles - it was quite horrible and I got terribly scratched all over - fortunately I was wearing long sleeves, boots and pants but the brambles got me anyway. Took a hot bath and pulled out whatever splinters I could find with needles and tweezers. It's only a flesh wound. I will survive. Jim poured me a stiff drink, that helped dull the pain and trauma somewhat. We will go out for a nice dinner at a Parrillada (that's a grilled meat) restaurant.